Coordinating and Subordinating Conjunctions in Greek

In Brief

Use ούτε...ούτε for “neither...nor” and είτε...είτε for “either...or” or “whether...or.” Ωστόσο adds “however,” παρόλο που introduces a fact that does not prevent the main event, and ώστε να introduces an intended result or purpose: Μίλα πιο σιγά ώστε να μην τον ξυπνήσεις (“Speak more quietly so as not to wake him”).

Overview

Conjunctions are linking words. They can join individual words, phrases, or clauses (groups of words organized around a verb). Once you know basic Greek connectors such as και (“and”), ή (“or”), and αλλά (“but”), these B1 patterns let you make the relationship between ideas more exact.

Two broad types matter here. Coordination links elements that have equal grammatical status: two people, two actions, or two alternatives. Subordination attaches a dependent clause—an idea that provides circumstances such as concession, purpose, or result—to a main clause. Ούτε...ούτε and είτε...είτε coordinate; παρόλο που and ώστε subordinate. Ωστόσο works slightly differently: it is a connecting adverb that relates one statement to another.

These distinctions are close to English, but the sentence patterns are not always interchangeable word for word. In particular, Greek normally expresses “so that” and “in order to” with να + a conjugated verb, not with an infinitive. It is best to learn the connector together with the structure that follows it.

How It Works

The main connectors at a glance

Connector	Relationship	Basic pattern	Typical English meaning
ούτε...ούτε	negative coordination	ούτε A ούτε B	neither A nor B
είτε...είτε	alternatives	είτε A είτε B	either A or B; whether A or B
ωστόσο	contrast between statements	statement; ωστόσο, statement	however; nevertheless
παρόλο που	concession	παρόλο που + clause	although; even though
ώστε να	intended result or purpose	ώστε να + verb	so that; in order to
ώστε + indicative	actual consequence	ώστε + factual clause	so that; with the result that

Here, the indicative means an ordinary verb form that presents an event as factual, such as έφυγε (“left”). In a να-clause, να introduces a dependent verb form: να φύγει (“that he/she leave,” or naturally in English, “to leave”).

Neither...nor: ούτε...ούτε

Ούτε...ούτε rejects both coordinated possibilities. It can join the same kinds of element:

• people: ούτε εγώ ούτε εσύ — neither me nor you
• things: ούτε καφέ ούτε τσάι — neither coffee nor tea
• descriptions: ούτε εύκολο ούτε γρήγορο — neither easy nor quick
• actions: ούτε ήρθε ούτε τηλεφώνησε — he neither came nor called

Try to keep the two sides parallel, meaning that they have a matching shape. Ούτε να περιμένουμε ούτε να φύγουμε pairs two να-clauses; ούτε σήμερα ούτε αύριο pairs two time expressions.

The paired construction already carries negative meaning, so complete parallel actions often need no separate δεν: Ούτε μίλησε ούτε χαμογέλασε. A single ούτε, however, commonly appears inside a clause already made negative with δεν and means “not even”: Δεν είπε ούτε μία λέξη (“He did not say even one word”). Modern Greek permits this kind of negative agreement; do not remove δεν from that pattern.

Either...or and whether...or: είτε...είτε

Είτε...είτε presents two alternatives:

• είτε Δευτέρα είτε Τρίτη — either Monday or Tuesday
• είτε μείνουμε είτε φύγουμε — whether we stay or leave
• είτε το θέλεις είτε όχι — whether you want it or not

With nouns or short phrases, it is often similar to the simpler ή...ή (“either...or”). Είτε...είτε gives both alternatives equal emphasis and is particularly clear with full clauses. It does not always imply that someone must choose. In Είτε βρέχει είτε όχι, τρέχει κάθε πρωί, the two alternatives cover all conditions: “Whether it rains or not, he runs every morning.”

However: ωστόσο

Ωστόσο marks a contrast with what has just been said. Grammatically, it is not part of a paired conjunction and does not turn the following statement into a dependent clause. It can begin a new sentence:

Η ιδέα είναι καλή. Ωστόσο, κοστίζει πολύ.
“The idea is good. However, it costs a lot.”

It can also interrupt the second statement:

Η λύση, ωστόσο, δεν είναι τόσο απλή.
“The solution, however, is not so simple.”

At the start of a sentence, a comma after ωστόσο is a clear and common choice. In the middle, commas usually set it off. Compared with everyday αλλά (“but”), ωστόσο often sounds more deliberate and is especially common in organized speech and writing.

Although: παρόλο που

Παρόλο που introduces a concessive clause—a clause naming a circumstance that might have prevented the main event, but did not:

Παρόλο που βρέχει, θα πάμε.
“Although it is raining, we will go.”

The rain creates an expectation that the trip will be cancelled; the main clause overturns that expectation. The concessive clause may come first or second:

• Παρόλο που ήταν κουρασμένη, συνέχισε. — Although she was tired, she continued.
• Συνέχισε, παρόλο που ήταν κουρασμένη. — She continued, although she was tired.

Παρόλο που is followed by a normal clause with its own subject and conjugated verb. Do not automatically insert να after it. A comma is normally useful when the παρόλο που clause comes first; when it follows a short main clause, punctuation can depend on rhythm and emphasis.

So that and as a result: ώστε

The most useful B1 pattern is ώστε να + verb. It expresses a desired outcome, goal, or practical purpose:

Έγραψα τη διεύθυνση ώστε να μην την ξεχάσω.
“I wrote down the address so that I would not forget it.”

The negative is ώστε να μην, not ώστε να δεν. The verb after να is conjugated for its subject: ώστε να καταλάβω (“so that I understand”), ώστε να καταλάβεις (“so that you understand”), ώστε να καταλάβουν (“so that they understand”). Greek therefore makes the intended actor explicit through the verb ending even when the subject pronoun is omitted.

When the second clause reports an actual consequence rather than a goal, Greek can use ώστε without να, followed by an indicative verb:

Έβρεξε τόσο πολύ, ώστε πλημμύρισαν οι δρόμοι.
“It rained so much that the streets flooded.”

A useful working contrast is:

• Μίλησε δυνατά ώστε να τον ακούσουν. — He spoke loudly so that they could hear him. (intended outcome)
• Μίλησε τόσο δυνατά, ώστε τον άκουσαν όλοι. — He spoke so loudly that everyone heard him. (actual result)

The words τόσο, τέτοιος, and similar expressions of degree often prepare an actual-result clause: “so much/such...that.” In everyday Greek, purpose may also be expressed simply with για να. Ώστε να tends to frame the intended result more explicitly and can sound somewhat more planned or formal.

Examples in Context

Greek	English	Note
Ούτε εγώ ούτε εσύ ξέρουμε την απάντηση.	Neither you nor I know the answer.	Two coordinated subjects
Δεν βρήκα ούτε ψωμί ούτε γάλα.	I found neither bread nor milk.	Negative verb plus a paired list
Ούτε ήρθε ούτε τηλεφώνησε.	He neither came nor called.	Two complete negative actions
Θα ταξιδέψουμε είτε την Παρασκευή είτε το Σάββατο.	We will travel either Friday or Saturday.	Two time alternatives
Είτε συμφωνείς είτε όχι, πρέπει να αποφασίσουμε.	Whether you agree or not, we must decide.	Outcome unaffected by the choice
Το διαμέρισμα είναι μικρό. Ωστόσο, είναι πολύ φωτεινό.	The apartment is small. However, it is very bright.	Contrast between sentences
Η πρόταση, ωστόσο, χρειάζεται μερικές αλλαγές.	The proposal, however, needs a few changes.	Connector inside the sentence
Παρόλο που βρέχει, θα πάμε.	Although it is raining, we will go.	Concessive clause first
Πήγε στη δουλειά, παρόλο που δεν ένιωθε καλά.	She went to work even though she did not feel well.	Concessive clause second
Μίλα πιο σιγά ώστε να μην τον ξυπνήσεις.	Speak more quietly so as not to wake him.	Negative intended result
Άφησα ένα σημείωμα ώστε να ξέρουν πού είμαι.	I left a note so that they would know where I am.	Different subject in the second clause
Έβαλε ξυπνητήρι ώστε να σηκωθεί νωρίς.	She set an alarm in order to get up early.	Same understood subject
Η μουσική ήταν τόσο δυνατή, ώστε δεν μπορούσαμε να μιλήσουμε.	The music was so loud that we could not talk.	Actual consequence
Άργησε τόσο πολύ, ώστε έχασε το τελευταίο λεωφορείο.	He was so late that he missed the last bus.	Completed result

Common Mistakes

Adding English-style inversion after ούτε

• Wrong: Ούτε ήρθε αυτός, ούτε έκανε η Μαρία.
• Right: Ούτε αυτός ήρθε ούτε η Μαρία ήρθε.
• Why: Greek does not copy the special English order in “neither did he...nor did Maria.” Use normal Greek clause structure and make the parallel relationship clear.

Mixing unlike alternatives

• Awkward: Είτε θα πάμε με το τρένο είτε το λεωφορείο.
• Better: Θα πάμε είτε με το τρένο είτε με το λεωφορείο.
• Why: Put the shared words outside the pair and match με το τρένο with με το λεωφορείο.

Treating ωστόσο exactly like αλλά

• Awkward: Θέλω ωστόσο δεν μπορώ.
• Right: Θέλω, αλλά δεν μπορώ. / Θέλω. Ωστόσο, δεν μπορώ.
• Why: Αλλά directly joins the two clauses. Ωστόσο comments on the contrast and normally needs sentence punctuation or commas.

Inserting να after παρόλο που

• Wrong: Παρόλο που να βρέχει, θα φύγουμε.
• Right: Παρόλο που βρέχει, θα φύγουμε.
• Why: For an ordinary factual concession, παρόλο που takes a regular conjugated clause, not να + verb.

Using δεν after να

• Wrong: ώστε να δεν αργήσουμε
• Right: ώστε να μην αργήσουμε
• Why: A negative να-clause uses μην (or μη before some forms), not δεν.

Confusing a goal with a completed result

• Unclear for an actual result: Έβρεξε τόσο ώστε να πλημμυρίσουν οι δρόμοι.
• Clear factual result: Έβρεξε τόσο πολύ, ώστε πλημμύρισαν οι δρόμοι.
• Why: Ώστε να naturally presents a projected or intended outcome. For a consequence stated as fact, ώστε + indicative is the clearest reference pattern.

Usage Notes

Ούτε...ούτε and είτε...είτε work in both speech and writing. In casual choices, speakers frequently use ή...ή instead of είτε...είτε. The paired είτε construction is useful when alternatives are longer, when both need equal emphasis, or in the fixed pattern είτε...είτε όχι (“whether...or not”).

Ωστόσο is standard modern Greek, but it is more characteristic of careful explanation, news, essays, and formal conversation than rapid casual speech. In everyday dialogue, αλλά may be more natural. Other contrastive connectors exist, but they are not always exact replacements: register and sentence structure matter.

The spelling παρόλο που is the normal two-word form before a clause. You may also meet related forms such as παρότι (“although”) and μολονότι (“although,” more formal). For B1 production, παρόλο που + factual clause is a dependable and widely useful pattern.

With ώστε να, the subject of the second verb may be the same as or different from the subject of the main clause. English often hides this difference with an infinitive, but Greek always uses a conjugated verb: Έφυγα νωρίς ώστε να προλάβω (“I left early to make it”) versus Έφυγα νωρίς ώστε να ξεκουραστούν τα παιδιά (“I left early so that the children could rest”).

Beyond the Basics / Advanced Use

At higher levels, these connectors become tools for organizing argument, not just joining short sentences. You can place ωστόσο after the topic for a measured contrast—Το βασικό πρόβλημα, ωστόσο, παραμένει (“The main problem, however, remains”)—or use it to qualify a claim without completely rejecting it.

Concession can also be expressed with αν και, παρότι, and μολονότι. They overlap with παρόλο που, but frequency, rhythm, and formality differ. The important advanced skill is to recognize the concessive logic: the subordinate fact creates an expectation, while the main clause goes against it.

Result clauses allow finer distinctions. Ώστε να views the result as aimed at, possible, or contemplated; ώστε + indicative states a consequence as realized. Context can blur that line, and authentic speakers do not always maintain a rigid textbook contrast. Nevertheless, it is a strong choice for clear writing. Actual-result structures also commonly correlate degree and consequence:

• τόσο...ώστε — so...that
• τέτοιος/τέτοια/τέτοιο...ώστε — such...that
• σε τέτοιο βαθμό...ώστε — to such an extent that

Finally, coordination can affect verb agreement when two subjects are joined. Real usage depends on whether the subjects are people or things, their position, and whether the pair is understood collectively. Rather than guessing from an English rule, notice agreement in edited Greek and recast uncertain sentences—for example, by using a plural subject and plural verb clearly.

Practice Tips

1. Build matched pairs. Write five frames—ούτε A ούτε B and είτε A είτε B—then replace A and B with two nouns, two prepositional phrases, and two complete clauses. Check that both sides have the same shape.
2. Sort purpose from result. For each situation, ask “Was this the goal, or did it actually happen?” Use ώστε να for the intended outcome and ώστε + indicative for a stated consequence.
3. Retell a short event with contrast. Use παρόλο που to introduce the obstacle and ωστόσο to connect a later contrasting statement. Reading the result aloud will help you hear where punctuation and pauses belong.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Basic Conjunctions — reviews core links such as “and,” “or,” “but,” and “because.”
• Next step: Concessive Clauses — expands the ways Greek expresses “although,” “even though,” and unexpected contrast.
• Advanced next step: Result and Consequence Clauses — develops factual results, degree expressions, and more complex clause relationships.